Program Analysis
First-year earnings of $71,116 track close to the $72,288 national median for Chemical Engineering programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.
Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 20.8x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Chemical Engineering programs nationally.
Some AI exposure exists in Chemical Engineering's typical career paths, with 48% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 16% gap from the optimistic case.
At $20,116 in median debt against $71,116 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.
At #47 of 158 Chemical Engineering programs, University of South Alabama scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.
Earnings grow from $71,116 to $88,027 over five years — a 24% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.